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IB CLE (19 Jan 2012

WAYS OF KNOWING
Rationality vs. -ism
Rationalism: The exclusive use of scientific reason and the insistence on certainty Rationality: The use of reason (> scientific)

What is the point of this parable in line with Rationality and Rationalism?

Sense Perception +Reason + Emotion + Language

WAYS OF KNOWING
Different Ways of Knowing are used differently for different domains (Areas of Knowledge). Certainty is overrated. But you need to wager still. Avoid confusing the domains.

Use of Reason in RELIGION
GOD DOESN’T EXIST! YOU BELIEVE IN GOD’s EXISTENCE GOD EXISTS!

YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD’s EXISTENCE

CERTAINTY = 1/REFLECTION

What about

MORALITY?
The place and role of REASON in Morality

Go
to
TURNING
STONES for
a
survey
on: “Is
it
morally
ACCEPTABLE or
WRONG?”

For each item in Part A: Compare the percentage of those who consider it ACCEPTABLE with those who consider it WRONG. 1. Over which behaviors/practices does our class generally agree in terms of their morality/ immorality? 2. Which behaviors/practices does the class consider “controversial”–i.e., there are almost equal number of students claiming rightness and wrongness? 3. Compare the class results with the survey results conducted by Gallup on American respondents in 2010. What similarities/differences do you note?

For Part B: For most of your answers, which of the following has tended to be the PRIMARY basis for classifying an action as acceptable or wrong?

[ [ [ [ [ [ [

] ] ] ] ] ] ]

Parents Religion School or teachers State or government Peers or Friends Popular Opinion (Media) Others

What do you think of the class’s top answer? How does it compare with your own?

are
maKers
on
which
contrary
views
can
be
held
that
are:
(a)
both
widespread
(b)
both
raTonal

MORALITY: Choice between GOOD and BAD

GOOD

BAD

• •

It’s not as SIMPLE as that! FOUR COMPLICATIONS...

Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

Duty

Forbidden

A WRONG ACT is an action--or inaction--that violates an accepted norm and generally causes some harm to one s self, to others, or to society in general. Basis for Decision: Authority (parents, religion, state, school), Opinion, or Reason

Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY
Acts can be RIGHT, NEUTRAL, or WRONG.
Not all acts can be readily classiﬁed as wrong. Some are contested. Examples of acts that are not clearly wrong...

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

Complication #1: SHADES OF GRAY
Reason cannot always determine with 100% certainty whether some acts are acceptable or wrong. When we are unsure of the wrongness of an act, what would be the safer assumption?

The road of CAUTION
When unsure of whether or not an act is wrong, err on the side of caution. Assume it is wrong. WHY?

Complication #2: Application of Moral Principles

GENERAL PRINCIPLES or LAWS

PARTICULAR SITUATIONS or CONTEXTS

Phronesis
φρόνησις
Practical Wisdom: One can learn the
principles of action, but applying them in the real world, in particular situations one could not have foreseen, requires experience of the world.

Phronesis
φρόνησις
Moral
issues
and
ques.ons
are
ambiguous
and
complex.
Solu.ons
and
answers
are
o8en
not
self-­‐ evident
or
obvious.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES or LAWS

PARTICULAR SITUATIONS or CONTEXTS

The two extremes of moral reasoning:
ABSOLUTIST
Consider only GENERAL PRINCIPLES, but not PARTICULAR SITUATION

RELATIVIST
No consideration EVALUATIVIST of GENERAL Consider BOTH PRINCIPLES. GENERAL SITUATION Only and PARTICULAR PARTICULAR SITUATION SITUATION

Serious harm has been caused. The actor knew that the act was wrong and harmful.

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

The actor could freely choose to do or not to do the action, and was not inﬂuenced by coercion or fear.

SINFUL

MORAL DECISION vs. SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT If & only if: If and only if: 1) RIGHT vs. RIGHT 1) RIGHT vs. WRONG 2) NEUTRAL vs. RIGHT 2) WRONG vs. WRONG (The Greater Good) ( The Lesser of 2 Evils )

RIGHT

NEUTRAL

WRONG

GREATER GOOD

SINFUL

Complication #4: Two Principles GOOD BAD

PLEASURE

PAIN

The POTHOLES of Morality

The road of SUSPICION
Whenever your decision involves pleasure or avoids pain, cast some suspicion on your motive. You may be biased for this decision because it is more convenient or less painful rather than because it is right and not wrong.

Primacy of Conscience
Conscience is what we use in making moral decisions. Follow an informed conscience when making a moral decision.
The conscience carefully considers: 1) the concrete circumstances of the moral situation, 2) the important values that need to be protected, 3) the relevant moral teachings and norms involved, 4) the good and bad eﬀects of every moral option.

We need guidance from Authority and Reason.

Route #1: Learn the WHAT The Rules: The Do s & Don ts What the Authorities Say Adequate for simpler issues and simpler people. Route #2: Learn the WHY & HOW Moral Reasoning Why the Authorities Say What They Say How You Assess Their Claim (Conscience)

Suitable for complex issues and more educated people.

FOUR POSSIBLE RESPONSES
Which are acceptable responses? ASSENT DISSENT